North Carolina RV Travel

We visited the barrier island beaches in our North Carolina RV travels. A stop in Pinehurst, Beaufort, Holden Beach and Cape Lookout National Seashore.

North Carolina RV Travel

Our North Carolina RV travels consisted mostly of visiting friends in some very nice locations.

North Carolina RV TravelN: Holden Beach, Brunswick Islands

Our first stop after crossing the border from South Carolina was Holden Beach, located between the historic port of Wilmington, N.C. and the tourist attractions of Myrtle Beach, S.C. Holden Beach is one of North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands, which are all separated from the mainland by the Intracoastal Waterway. It is a popular area for boaters and beach goers alike.

Along these southernmost North Carolina barrier islands, are the oceanside communities of Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle, Holden Beach, Oak Island, Caswell Beach and Bald Head Island.

Nearby is the historic town of Southport with beautiful homes, waterfront parks and antique shops. The town of Shallotte is a centrally located hub with shopping and dining establishment. Further south, close to North Myrtle Beach is the aptly named town of Calabash, known for its seafood.

Because the coastline consists of islands along the Intercoastal, water separates one beach from the next. So it takes longer than you might expect to drive from place to place.

RV Parks in the area tend to have a lot of seasonal guests and/or members, so call ahead to make reservations and inquire if they can accommodate large rigs. Here are a few North Carolina RV Parks in this area:

North Carolina RV Travel: Pinehurst

Our next North Carolina stop was in Pinehurst NC to visit friends. We stayed at one of our RPI membership campgrounds, the Village of Pinehurst RV Park. Pinehurst is a golf mecca and also has great tennis and spa facilities. There are interesting restaurants and shops in Pinehurst itself, as well as in nearby Southern Pines.

North Carolina RV Travel: Crystal Coast

A bit further north, the Crystal Coast was the next stop on our North Carolina RV trip. We visited friends in Havelock NC, which is near Beaufort NC and the southernmost islands of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Our friends took us kayaking on the Neuse River, and boating over to the Lighthouse and beautiful beach at Cape Lookout National Seashore. As you can see, Hike took to this new North Carolina RV adventure!

Nearby Beaufort NC , founded in 1709, was originally a Port of Entry and fishing village. The historic waterfront offers visitors the opportunity to dine and shop while enjoying views of feral horses on Carrot Island. Water ferries transport visitors to nearby Cape Lookout and Shackleford Banks. You might see boats from all over the world at the Beaufort Docks. There is a Maritime Museum, the Beaufort Historic Site, boating and fishing excursions and historic homes.

Other points of interest in this area are Harkers Island, Moorhead City, Fort Macon, Atlantic Beach and the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.